Les Bowen

STAFF WRITER

Les Bowen has covered the Eagles since 2002. Before that, he covered the Flyers for 13 years. He came to the Daily News from the Charlotte Observer in May 1983, just as the Sixers were winning the NBA championship. He thought, "Gosh, this sort of thing must happen all the time here."

Eagles quarterback Michael Vick is listed as questionable, although all signs point to his being the starter Sunday against the Giants.

"There's no reason to think I won't play," Vick said, pressed into his locker stall by a crush of cameras in his first conversation with reporters since suffering a concussion Sunday night against Atlanta. "After havng two good days of practice, I am optimistic and I am looking forward to playing the New York Football Giants."

Vick added: "I feel good. Nothing feels different. I worked myself back into playing shape and feel ready to go."

Head athletic trainer Rick Burkholder said Vick has passed all concussion testing and will not need to undergo additional testing, unless there is a setback. He is scheduled to meet informally with team internist Dr. Gary Dorsheimer before the game.

Asked whether Vick will play barring a setback, Burkholder said, "We're headed in that direction."

Vick was not wearing a mouthpiece when he was injured, but Burkholder said that they are "working on" his wearing one this week. Vick said he will wear a mouthpiece.

Vick said he does not plan to change the way he plays.

"I haven't even thought about geting hit," Vick said. "I play this game to win and am not thinking about the consequences of standing in the pocket or getting hit when I run."

He said the play he was injured on, which ended with a tackler swinging Vick into Todd Herremans face-first, "was just the situation I was in at the time," not anything he could prevent or needs to fear happening again.

Vick said he it was his decision as to whether to return to practice. He called the sessions Thursday and today "sharp."

"You have to be conscientious and take it seriously, and I do," Vick said. "I feel lke everthing happens for a reason. If it wasn't meant for me to be on the field this weekend, then I wouldn't feel as good as I do."

Vick denied that his helmet was being altered to add a different style passing made from kevlar, contrary to reports. Burkholder said they were still working through some helmet issues with Vick.

"I'm not getting fitted for a new helmet," he said. "I'm not going to change anything."

Later, Vick explained that it was too late in the week to change his helmet -- presumably because that might need league approval.

***

Vince Young will be listed as probable with a hamstring injury, making it seem likely that Mike Kafka will serve as the backup quarterback. Asked whether Young will be in uniform, Reid said, "There is a chance he is. there is a chance he's not."

Both defensive ends Daryl Tapp (pectoral muscle) and Juqua Parker (ankle) are listed as out. Phillip Hunt, who only got a few snaps in his NFL debut last week, will play a bigger role, Andy Reid said. Defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins will likely play some snaps on the outside.